OTC attendance falls again

Attendance at the Offshore Technology Conference dropped by 3,000 attendees to its lowest level since the last recession as deep-water drillers, who have not yet felt the budding onshore recovery, stayed away from their industry’s largest convention.

About 65,000 people walked the exhibit halls at NRG Park, down from 68,000 last year and a record 108,000 in 2014, when oil prices passed $100 a barrel.

Crude settled at $45.52 in New York on Thursday, just $1 higher than the same time last year.

NRG Center was filled with blow-out preventers, hydraulic fracturing trucks, and an array of steel piping, plates, valves and oddities this week. Yet the convention, which closed Thursday, was noticeably subdued. There were fewer booths outside. Hallways allowed for easy travel. Parking lots were empty. There was enough lunch seats to go around.

Attendees use an interactive screen at the Schlumberger Ltd. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg less

Attendees use an interactive screen at the Schlumberger Ltd. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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An attendee uses the Interactive Wall at the Schlumberger Ltd. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg less

An attendee uses the Interactive Wall at the Schlumberger Ltd. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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Attendees listen to a presentation at the Schlumberger Ltd. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg less

Attendees listen to a presentation at the Schlumberger Ltd. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals ... more

Attendees walk on the exhibition floor during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg less

Attendees walk on the exhibition floor during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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An attendee wears HTC Corp. Vive virtual reality (VR) headset while testing out the DecisionSpace simulation software at the Halliburton Co. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/BloombergGlasses are made by HTC less

An attendee wears HTC Corp. Vive virtual reality (VR) headset while testing out the DecisionSpace simulation software at the Halliburton Co. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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An employee demonstrates the remote operations of the AdvantageOne Offshore Cementing System at the Halliburton Co. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg less

An employee demonstrates the remote operations of the AdvantageOne Offshore Cementing System at the Halliburton Co. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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An attendee wears HTC Corp. Vive virtual reality (VR) headset while testing out the DecisionSpace simulation software at the Halliburton Co. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/BloombergGlasses are made by HTC less

An attendee wears HTC Corp. Vive virtual reality (VR) headset while testing out the DecisionSpace simulation software at the Halliburton Co. booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in ... more

An attendee wears a Samsung Electronics Co. Gear virtual reality (VR) headset at the BP Plc booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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An attendee holds a 3-D printed digital rock at the BP Plc booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. Photographer: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg less

An attendee holds a 3-D printed digital rock at the BP Plc booth during the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The OTC gathers energy professionals to ... more

Photo: Bloomberg

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Flour offers a drawing for a drone and Amazon Echo Dot at their booth at the Offshore Technology Conference Tuesday, May 2, 2017 in Houston. ( Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle)

Flour offers a drawing for a drone and Amazon Echo Dot at their booth at the Offshore Technology Conference Tuesday, May 2, 2017 in Houston. ( Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle)

A show attendee looks at a photo taken of her group by Billy Pugh Company, photographer Michael McKenney on the floor of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2017) Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Houston. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle ) less

A show attendee looks at a photo taken of her group by Billy Pugh Company, photographer Michael McKenney on the floor of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2017) Wednesday, May 3, 2017, in Houston. ( ... more